anotherview Loc: California

Correction: Never said or believed "never need a tripod." I have used a tripod to do photography, with good results. Nevertheless, fewer conditions now require a tripod.

This device, however, a photographer should own for use when he faces conditions calling for it.

Progress here represents the advance of technology to bring us image stabilization to reduce reliance on a a tripod.

leftj Loc: Texas

Beg to differ. Your first post said don't buy a tripod. It's not needed because of image stabilization.

Bison Bud

I think the worst advice that I frequently hear on this forum is telling someone that they should only shoot in manual mode and implying that a good photographer would only use manual mode virtually all the time! Yes, when one needs or wants full control, it's the only suitable option, but implying that it's the only way to get a high quality or creative photo is just plain misguided. Frankly, there's a time and use for most all the available shooting modes and a truly good photographer should know how to use them and when they might be a good, if not better choice, as well. Frankly, not every shot is an "artistic endeavor" either, but one can indeed have "vision and purpose" in Auto Mode just as easily as in Manual, they just don't have as much control over what the camera produces and it's just a tool. In this age of extensive post production, it doesn't seem to matter all that much anyway.

I started out years ago using a Pentax K-1000, which is strictly manual operation (including focus) and I still shoot in manual frequently with my DLSR, however, I've really learned to appreciate the "semi-auto" and even "Program" modes now available and if you really think about it, we all spend a lot of money to get new features and capabilities all the time. I have to wonder how many of these "Full Time Manual Mode" photographers are focusing manually too? Anyway, I may be wrong, but I'm not aware of anyone making or marketing a strictly manual DLSR these days and I think there's good reason for it. Yes, we should encourage Newbies to learn to shoot in manual, frankly we should encourage them to learn all the features and options available on their cameras, but maybe some of us need to step down off their high horses a bit when it comes to shooting in manual.

leftj Loc: Texas

Well said.

Jim Bob

Yep.

Rick from NY Loc: Sarasota FL

No kidding, but the question specifically asked about worst digital advice, not worst photography advice. Many replies are simply off subject.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Actually, Av mode is a good mode for shooting birds. You guys don't know what your talking about. All you have to do is shoot wide open, (with most lenses) and adjust the ISO so that you maintain a shutter speed of at least 1/1000th of a second shutter. Usually ISO 400 is fine. Sometimes when low light conditions are present you must push the ISO a little higher. But on a bright sunny day Av, ISO 100 and wide open are the settings prefered. Once in a while when shooting up into a tree where a bird is deep in the branches and it's in shade, I'll push the ISO higher and I'll usually use +1 stop EC. Birds in the bright sky, I put the EC to +2/3 of a stop otherwise the dark blue sky looks too fake.

leftj Loc: Texas

So, you're what? The room monitor?

Jim Bob

Geesus. I've received so much bad information (much of it from this site) that I wouldn't know where to start. Sorry.

leftj Loc: Texas

Bad information comes from all sources. Life isn't fair.

Jim Bob

Who claimed it was? Certainly not me. Thanks for that refreshing insight.

Hyperhad Loc: Thunder Bay, Canada

Don't bother learning about photography. Just use your phone.

Jim Bob

Did you receive that tip from UHH?

leftj Loc: Texas

You seemed to intimate that most bad information comes from UHH. Thus my comment.

Feiertag Loc: British Columbia, Canada

Au contraire! I don't know what I'm talking about? What if wide open is f/5.6 or higher with some zoom lenses and you are in low light situation? Now you have to hope your shutter speed stays around the 1/000th when the bird takes flight, which btw is too low of a setting in this case. You don't have that control with Av mode like you do in M or second best, S mode.